ketchup loving kid

Seriously.  This kid loves ketchup.  And has recently discovered the joy in eating JUST ketchup, and licking it off her fingers.  A little photo series for you, with what I assume Ryann is thinking...

"Hey now.  You better not put this on the blog mom."

"Moooom, ha ha I'm messy!"

"No.  Seriously.  Don't post these pictures."

So sorry sweetie.  I like them too much.  I had to do it.  That series could also be titled bad photo lighting.  Yuck.  Maybe I should actually set my white balance sometimes.  Or move to a house with more natural light.  I like the latter option.

I thought I'd toss in a little update on our picky eater situation.  She does eat those Gerber meals.  The little cups of nastiness (in my opinion) that they call mac & cheese and pasta stars with chicken & vegetables.  So I know she gets a little bit of protein and vegetables.  I've been playing the tough guy lately, and she has gone pretty much with out eating a meal a few times.  But she lived, and didn't seem all that phased by it.

I have been telling her what she is eating in those Gerber meals, such as the corn, peas, carrots, chicken and turkey.  She will now eat corn.  Not the ideal vegetable for our household, seeing as Chris and I almost never make it, but it is better than nothing!

Ryann definitely seems more eager to try new foods (and even like them!) when we aren't at the table.  For instance, in the grocery store on Saturday they were  passing out samples of brisket with some barbeque sauce they were marketing.  Ryann started asking me for a bite, and I of course said something to the tune of "Yeah right.  You won't eat this."  I know I shouldn't say things like that when I want her to try new things.  But of course she surprised me and gobbled up that bite, along with the rest of mine and Chris's sample cups.

I'm toying with the idea of getting her a little table to sit at while she eats, so she doesn't have to be in the booster at the table.  But I haven't sold myself on it yet.  I don't know that it will make a big difference, and I really don't want more stuff hanging out around the house.  It feels cluttered enough for me!  So we will see.  Maybe I'll try to borrow something, or buy something cheap off Craigslist to test this theory out, before I dive in with something cute that I'll actually allow to sit out in my living room.

And for the record, we have wanted to try just leaving the tray off her booster and letting her eat at the table like a 'big girl' (one of her new favorite phrases right now) but she isn't quiet tall enough for it to really work.  She needs to grow another inch or so.

What is your kiddo's favorite food or meal?